It seems like so much has changed since my last Top 5 list and yet there are still several new phones right around the corner. Nevertheless, with all these new Android releases, I couldn't help but debut a new Top 5 Android list.
The Nexus S got bumped up to 4G, the much-hyped G2x was released as well as HTC's follow-up to the Incredible, and AT&T got its own version of the Thunderbolt, the Inspire 4G. It has been a busy month and that means that there are plenty of new choices if you're shopping for a new Android phone. Which one is the best? Well, this is my list. Not everyone will agree with me, but after examining spec sheet after spec sheet, here are my top 5 Android smartphones for the month of May.
The G2X is being hailed by bloggers as the best Android phone currently available and it's easy to see why. With its dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 8-megapixel camera that's capable of capturing full 1080p HD video, and super-fast HSPA+ speeds, the G2X is a no-brainer. The stock build of Android 2.2 is sure to please the Android purists and it adds to the phone's overall speed. If you're on T-Mobile, the G2X is THE phone to get. Heck, even if you're not on T-Mobile, you may want to consider getting it and switching carriers.
HTC has a reputation for making some of the best smartphones on the market and the Thunderbolt is their current creme de la creme. Its lightning-fast (get it, lighting, Thunderbolt?) next-generation Snapdragon CPU and Adreno GPU give this phone some serious power. Not only that, but it ships with Sense 2.0, a newer version of the most popular UI around, on top of Android 2.2 and, of course, supports 4G LTE speeds. (Never mind the fact that the 4G capabilities means this phone has terrible battery life.) The phone is fast, the network is fast, and HTC seems to shell out OS updates pretty fast so the Thunderbolt is definitely a hot phone right now.
For those on AT&T, check the Thunderbolt's sibling, the Inspire.
I give the Atrix a hard time because I generally don't like Motorola-built phones and I can't stand the UI that Moto has created; however, that being said, the Atrix is a beast of a phone and not everyone will be repulsed by MOTOBLUR. The Atrix's 4-inch qHD display, 1 GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor, and 4G speeds are features to envy if you have any other phone (besides the two phone above this one, of course). It also ships with Android 2.2 and has a front-facing camera, a feature that seems to be standard these days.
When the Nexus S first came out, one of the few qualms I had with it was the lack of 4G. Well, Google seems to have heard my cries and released an updated version of its flagship phone with 4G connectivity. This version is currently only available on Sprint so you GSM folks won't be able to enjoy the 4G goodness. I still wish it had a better camera, but it packs the powerful punch of Samsung's Hummingbird processor and it features that beautiful 4-inch Super AMOLED display. Oh yeah, and it's also one of the few phones to have Android 2.3.
Hopefully Google will release a GSM version of this 4G variant, but for now it's CDMA and WiMAX only.
The fact that the myTouch 4G is still on this list is a testament to how great it is. True, as newer phones come out, the myTouch will slowly be shuffled further and further down the list, but that doesn't mean it has lost its charm. The next-generation Snapdragon processor is still faster than ever and the custom version of Sense over Android 2.2 never gets old. Sure, the UI isn't for everyone, but it's one that I personally enjoy. On top of that, the myTouch 4G ships with a 5-megapixel camera that captures HD video and was one of the first phones to have a front-facing camera. This phone is still amazing and, in my book, still earns a spot on a top 5 list.
